CNN host breaks down as dad remembers wife and 12-year-old daughter killed in plane crash

A CNN anchor broke down Monday night as a father wept while remembering his wife and daughter, who were among 67 people who died last week in a mid-air collision between an American Airlines regional jet and a military Blackhawk helicopter.

Andy Beyer joined CNN's "The Source" with anchor Kaitlan Collins, and said the past week has felt "unreal."

"I go through these moments of extreme sadness and tears. Then I get flat and numb. And then I feel guilty that I'm not just crying all the time. You know?" he said, thinking of his wife, Justyna Beyer and their daughter, 12-year-old Brielle.

Andy Beyer said he was in a parking lot near the airport when his wife's text messages suddenly switched from blue to green.

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"Firetrucks started going by. At that point I knew something was wrong," he said.

Andy Beyer tried to fight back tears as he remembered telling his son he thought they'd been in a plane crash.

"He came in the front seat with. We had a really long cry," said Beyer, unable to hold back tears.

Collins fought back tears on air as she asked Beyer how he could talk about his loss.

"Why is it important for you to talk about them?" she asked.

"They deserve to be remembered. They deserve to have their story known," he replied, fighting back tears. "Everyone dies, right? And they live on through our memories. And I want people to have a memory of them so that they live on."

As Beyers wept, Collins broke down on air, wiping away tears.

"Um — Thank you — thank you for doing so, Andy. And um — I think everyone's going to be really touched to hear from you," she said.

Watch the clip below or at this link.